Starting device for gasolene-engines.



EATENEED AUG. 2, 1904, E. REYNOLDS. STARTING DEVICE EGE GASGLENE ENGENES;

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 16, 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

N0 MODEL.

IN VENTOR ,WITNEESES PATENTED AUG. 2, 1904.

O I. REYNOLDS.

STARTING DEVICE EOE. GASOLENE ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED 0OT.16, 1903.

NO MODEL.

.a WIM,

UNITED STATES Patented August 2, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

STARTING DEVICE FOR GASOLENE-ENGINES-- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 766,525, dated August 2, 1904,

Application filed October 16, 1903. Serial No. 177,244. (No model.)

T0 all whom, it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, FRANK REYNOLDS, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Starting Devices for Gasolene-Engines, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention pertains to gasolene-engines, and has reference more particularly to that class of engines which are designed for propelling automobiles and launches.

The invention is applicable to various types of engines. However, it is especially desirable for use in connection with that species termed reciprocating-piston engines.

It is well known to persons familiar with gasolene-engines that great inconvenience and trouble are experienced when it is desired to start the engine. This is due to the fact that it is necessary to produce a compression of the mixture admitted into the cylinder of the engine from the carbureter before the explosion of said mixture can be effected. rlo obtain this compression, it has been necessary for a person to apply a hand-crank to the engine-shaft and impart several revolutions to the shaft, thereby reciprocating the piston, the mixture being drawn in the cylinder by the suction created by the outward thrust of the piston and compressed between the head of the cylinder and piston by the inward thrust of the latter. The rotation of said shaft for this purpose when the engine has been applied to an automobile usually necessitated the person in charge dismounting from the vehicle and required a great deal of time and exertion and was therefore very inconvenientandobjectionable. The present invention contemplates obviating this inconvenience and objection by providing a simple, reliable, and effectual device which shall automatically start the engine.

To this end the invention consists, essentially, in the combination, with the explosioncylinder, piston in said cylinder, and shaft connected to said piston, of a starting device comprising a compressed-air chamber, an airpassage leading' from said chamber, a carbureter connected to said passage, a gasolenechamber communicating with said carbureter, means controlling the supply of air and gasolene to said carbureter, a passage conducting the mixture under pressure from the carbureter to the cylinder, means controlling the discharge of the mixture into the said cylinder, and suitably-controlled igniter in said cylinder.

Furthermore, the invention consists in certain novel details of construction of the starting device, as hereinafter fully described, and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a side view of a portion of a socalled cfour-cylinder gasolene-engine with my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on lineX X in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section on line Y Y in Fig. l and illustrates more clearly one of the cut-ofi' valves which controls the discharge of the mixture into the cylinder and also one of the check-valves. Fig. 4L is an enlarged detail longitudinal section of the pipe through which the air is discharged from the compressed-air chamber and illustrates one of the forms of the gasolene-chamber which isemployed and showing the valves which control the supply of air and. gasolene to the carbureter, and Fig'. 5 is partly a side view and partly a sectional view of a portion of my device and shows another form of gasolenechamber which may be used.

In said drawings, A A represent four preferably upright explosion cylinders, which are open at their lower ends, and in said cylinders are disposed, respectively, the reciproeating pistons B B, which are connected by their rods C C to cranks D D, provided on the shaft E in the usual and well-known manner. The said pistons are so limited in their inward movement as to leave spaces between the pistons and heads of the cylinders, which spaces constitute chambers, (indicated atF F,) into which the mixture is admitted and compressed by the pistons and ignited therein by suitable spark-plugs a a, composed of the usual terminals .fr y. One terminal, of a spark-plug is connected, by a wire c, extending from the electric contact to one of the terminals of the usual secondary electric-cir- IOO cuit coil. (Not shown.) The other terminal, y, of the spark-plug is attached to the cylinder, and to the latter is also secured another electric contact b4, whereby the said cylinderI forms part of the circuit. The other wire, c2, of the circuit 'is attached to a circuit maker and breaker hereinafter described and to the hereinbefore-mentioned coil. Y

When the engine is Well under motion, it will be understood that the mixture is to be supplied from the main carbureter and controlled by any suitable means, and any means may be employed which will operate automatically to cause a sparking of the plug',

said compressed-air chamberG extends a sta-. n

tionary pipe ci, which for convenience is disposed obliquely and throughwhich the air is discharged from said chamber. The said pipe d is provided with a suitable oscillatory valve e, which is adapted to be operated by the person in charg'e of the engine and is provided with a suitable hand-lever f. In some cases for convenience it may be necessary to employ another lever for actuating the lever f, particularly when the invention is used in connection with an engine applied to an automobile or launch. This valve e is disposed in a suitable casing Gr and is provided with a stem or spindle g, projecting horizontally from the casing for the purpose hereinafter explained.

A section of the air-pipe (indicated at L) constitutes the carbureter, in which the gasolene is mixed with the air. The gasolene is y supplied to the said carbureter /L by means of a chamber t', which is arranged conveniently and which may be of either of the forms shown in Fig. et or Fig.r5 and connected in any suitable manner. Y

The gasolene-chamber as shown in Fig. 4 is provided with a valve j', which controls the supply of gasolene, the supply of air being controlled by the aforesaid valve e. The said gasolene-valve j comprises a plug which is adapted to move longitudinally in the chamber t' and is provided with a series ofannular grooves/hln. Said grooves communicate with eac-h other by means of ports provided in the intervening collars 7a2, as indicated at 7c3 in Fig. 4. The grooves it' 7n contain the gasolene, and when the plug is moved toward the carbureter they feed the gasolene thereto, and

m is loosely connected at its upper end to the valve-stem Z by providing the lever with a longitudinal slot m2, which engages a pin m3, projecting from said stem. The lower end of the lever m is provided with a pin 0,which engages a spiral groove p, formed on th-e aforesaid spindlev or stem g of the valve e.

B v operating the hand-lever f oscillatory movement is imparted to the valve e, and by the aforesaid connection with the valve l7' the proper amount of air and gasolene is admitted to the carbureter.

H denotes a rotary horizontal pipe which may be disposed above the plane of the tops of the cylinders A A or at the sides of the cylinders and is journaled in suitable couplings a a' of elbow pipe-sections b/ b, which `connect the pipe H to the respective cylinders and which preferably enter the sides of the cylinders. The said pipe H is connected at one end with the aforesaid carbureter L by means of a coupling c', which is designed to be air-tight and at the same time permit free rotary movement of said pipe. This pipe H is provided with ports d CZ within the couplings c d and constitute cut-off valves which are arranged to consecutively open and close communication of the pipe with the respective cylindersand serve to control the discharge of the mixture from the carbureter 7i, connected to said pipe, as aforesaid. It will be understood that the said ports cl CZ/ are slightly elongated transversely in relation to the pipe H in order that one of the cylinders will always be in communication rwith the pipe. The outer end of the pipe H is closed preferably by the employment of a short shaft e', to which is fastened a sprocket-wheel f', connected by achain]L12 to another sprocketwheel g, secured to the engine-shaft E,

` whereby the said pipe is rotated, which causes the cut-off valves or ports to open and close automatically.

While I prefer to employ the mechanism just described for operating the pipe H, at the same time I do not limit myself in that respect.

side with wedo'ino' ro'ections m' m', assing O IOO through the said slots 7c. The said bar or rod Z is connected at one end to the aforesaid valve-stem Z of the gasolene-chamber or to the lever m, as clearly shown in Figs. l and 4 of the drawings. These wedging projections engaging the said slots operate to close and release the check-valves L 71,' simultaneously with the closing' and opening of the gasolene-valve fand air-valve e, all of which are controlled by the aforesaid hand-lever f. When the said valves /t/ /t are released, one is forced open by the mixture which is under pressure at the cylinder whose cut-off valve or port is open.

In case the invention is used in connection with a two-cylinder engine it will be necessary to arrange the cut-oif valves so that only one shall open at a time. However, in the present instance it is not absolutely essential, providing' they are arranged in such a manner that the valve of a cylinder whose piston ,is moving down is completely open when thel valve of another cylinder is partly open the piston of which latter is in its uppermost position.

.inasmuch as the valves /i L are employed only in the starting of the engine. they are maintained normally closed to prevent escape of the mixture from the cylinder, which mixture is supplied by the main carbureter in the usual and well-known manner.

a n/ denote two yielding' electric contacts to which are connected the wires 0' 02 of a primary electric circuit.

T he primary electric circuit and secondary circuit may be arranged in any suitable or Well-known manner.

p represents a circuit maker and breaker which may be of various forms, but preferably consists of an arm secured to the aforesaid stem or spindle g of the air-valve e and adapted to be moved between said contacts n' n.

(t2 ft2 are the circuit makers and breakers of the secondary electric circuit and which are provided on each of the cylinders and consist, preferably, of yielding metallic plates. These plates are each secured at one end to one of the electric contacts Z1 and insulated therefrom and adapted to be pressed onto the other of said contacts. Said circuit making and breaking plates are consecutively actuated by means of suitably-shaped collars c3 a3, secured to the aforesaid rotary pipe H. The said collars are so arranged and timed in their movements that the secondary electric circuit will close on the cylinder at which a valve or port CZ is open and admits the mixture to the explosion-chamber F.

The secondary circuit being closed at one of the cylinders and the engine at rest,y to

start the engine the operator or person inv charge moves the hand-lever in one direction to open the air-valve e and gasolene-valve j to the carbureter It. This movement of the lever actuates the aforesaid horizontal rod or bar Z to release the check-valves it t and at the same time causes the circuit maker and breaker p to engage the contacts a n of the primary electric circuit, and thus close the latter.

The opening of the valves e and j, as stated, effects a direct passage from the compressedair chamber Gto the rotary pipe H, whereby the pressure from said chamber forces the mixture from the carbureter into said pipe, from which it is discharged through the said port Z/ into the space or chamber F of the cylinder A.

It will be understood that the aforesaid hand-leverf is to be immediately moved to its normal position to cut off the gasolene from'the chambere' and air from thechamber G and simultaneously close the checkvalves L' L. Thus pressure is relieved from the pipes and valves and mixture entrapped in the explosion-chamber F lof the cylinderl A. This latter movement' of the hand-lever withdraws the arm p from between the electric contacts a a of the primary circuit, thus breaking the electric circuit, and thereby causing a sparking at the terminals on the spark-plug a, connected to the secondary electric circuit, which sparking ignites the compressedmixture in the chamberl F and forces down the piston B in theusual and wellknown manner.

Any suitable and convenient exhaust device may be applied to the cylinders and is not necessary'to be shown. i

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In case the engine fails to start at the operation of the hand-lever by reason of insufli- Y cient or improper supply of the mixture of air and gasolene or lack of sparking the said lever can be'actuated Vagain or several times, if necessary. l

It will be seen that the starting device can be very readily controlled with very little exertion by the person in charge on the engine.

Z2 denotes a petcock which I'prefer to attach to the aforesaid rotary pipe at any convenient part for the purpose of releasing the mixture remaining in the pipe in order to insure a fresh supply at the subsequent starting of the engine. The pipe leading from the compressed-air chamber may be also'provided with a similar petcock (not shown) for releasing the air from said latter pipe if required.

When the form of gasolene-chamber illustrated 'in Figs.A l and 4 ofithe drawings is used, I' attach to the chamber a pipe e2, lead- IIO the O'asolene to the carbureter, 2 re resents the gasolene-chamber. This chamber is larger than'that shown in Figs. l and 4 and constitutes a reservoir in which the gasolene can be stored. The said chamber is provided with a passage g2 across its top, which passage communicates at one end'wlth a` section of "the pipe /L and at its opposite end with another section of the pipe, said latter section constituting the carbureter. At the connection of the passage g2 with the carbureter is provided a bushing h2, which slightly chokes the passage of air for the purpose which will be shortly explained. The passage g2 is provided in its bottom with van air-port 3, by which it communicates with the chamber. The said chamber is provided with a small vertical outlet-passage h3 at one side thereof, which latter communicates at its lower end with the bottom of the chamber by means of a port f3 and communicates at its upper end with the carbureter by means of a port The aforesaid bushing if causes a greater pressure of air in said passage g2 than in the carbureter, and thus by reason of said port 3 between the chamber and passage the gasolene is forced-through the passage 7a3 into said carbureter, Where it becomes mixed with the air which has passed through the bushing 7a2. The supply of gasolene from said chamber to the carbureter is regulated by means of an adjustable valve'la, usually termed needlevalve and consisting of a screw passing through the bottom of the chamber and opening and closing the port js.Y

Although the pipe H is rotated in order to open and close the ports therein, as shown and described still at the same time I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the use of such pipe, inasmuch as a longitudinally-movable pipe or oscillatory pipe may be employed for the purpose and operated in any suitable manner.

What I claim as my invention isl. In a gasolene-engine, the combination with the explosion-cylinder, piston in said cylinder, and shaft connected to said piston, of a vstarting device comprising a compressed-air chamber, a pipe leading from said chamber, a valve controlling the discharge of air from said chamber, a carbureter connected to said air-pipe, a gasolene-chamber communicating with said carbureter, a Valve controlling the supply of gasolene to the carbureter, means for simultaneously operating said valves, a pipe conducting the mixture from the carbureter to the cylinder, a discharge-valve in the latter pipe, and an electric sparking device in said cylinder substantially as described.

2. In a gasolene-engine, the combination` with the explosion-cylinder, piston therein,

and the shaft connected to said piston, of astarting'device comprising a compressed-air chamber, a passage leading from said chamber to the cylinder, a carbureter in said passage, a gasolene-chamber communicating' with the carbureter, manually-operated coacting valves controlling the supply of gasolene and air to said carbureter, anautomatically-operating valve controlling the discharge of the mixture from said passage into the cylinder, a check-valve disposed between said automatic valve and cylinder, and an igniter in said cylinder substantially as described.

3. In a gasolene-engine, the combination With the explosion-cylinder, piston in said cylinder, and shaft rotated by said piston, of a starting device comprising a compressed-air chamber, apassage leading from said chamber to the cylinderf'a carbureter in said passage, valves controlling the supply of air and gasolene to said carbureter, an automatic cut-olf valve controllingthe discharge of the mixture from the passage into the cylinder, a checkvalve interposed between the cut-off valve and cylinder, manually-operated means for simultaneously actuating said check-valve, air-valve and gasolene-valve, and a suitably-controlled igniter in said cylinder substantially as described.

4. In a gasolene-engine, the combination with the explosion-cylinder, its piston, and shaft rotated'by said piston, of a starting device comprising a compressed-air chamber, a passage leading' from said chamber to the cylinder, a carbureter in said passage, a gasolenechamber communicating with the carbureter, means controlling the supply of air and gasolene to said carbureter, a cut-off valve controlling the discharge of the mixture from said passage into the cylinder, a check-valve interposed between the cut-olf valve and cylinder, means operated by the engine-shaft for actuating' the cut-off valve, and an igniter in said cylinder substantially as described.

5. In a gasolene-engine, the combination with the explosion-cylinder, its piston, and shaft rotated by said piston, of a starting device comprising a compressed-air chamber, a passage leading from said chamber to the cylinder, a carbureter in said passage, a gasolene-chamber communicating with the carbureter, manually-operated coacting valves controlling the supply of air and gasolene to the carbureter, a rotary cut-off valve controlling the discharge of the mixture from the passage into the cylinder, a manually-operated checkvalve interposed between the cut-off valve and cylinder, means imparting rotary movement from the engine-shaft to said cnt-off valve, and an igniter in said cylinder substantially as described.

6. In a gasolene-engine, the combination with the explosion-cylinder, reciprocating piston therein, and crank-shaft connected to said piston, of a starting device comprising a compressed-air chamber, a pipe leading from said chamber, a movable pipe communicating with the other pipe and cylinder, a carbureter between said pipes and communicating therewith, a gasolene-chamber communicating with the carbureter, means controlling' the supply of air and gasolene to the carbureter, a port in the movable pipe for discharging the mixture IOO from the latter into tlie cylinder, a checkvalve interposed between said port and cylinder, means for actuating said movablepipe, and a suitably-controlled ig'niter in said cylinder substantially as described.

7. In a gasolene-engine, the combination with the explosion-cylinder, piston in said cylinder, and shaft connected to said piston, of a starting device comprising a compressed-air chamber, a pipe leading from said chamber, a carbureter connected to said air-pipe, a gasolene-chamber communicating with the carbureter, a rotary pipe conducting the mixture from the carbureter to the cylinder, a discharge-port in said rotary pipe, means for rotating' the latter' pipe, and a suitably-controlled igniter in said cylinderfsubstantially as described.

8. In a gasolene-engine, the combination with the explosion-cylinder, piston in said cylinder, and the shaft rotated by said piston, of a starting device comprising a compressed-air chamber, a stationary pipe leading from said chamber, a carbureter connected to said pipe, a gasolene-chamber communicating with said carbureter, means controlling the supply of air and gasolene to the carbureter, a rotary pipe conducting the mixture from the carbureter to the cylinder, a discharge-port in the latter pipe, an electric sparking' device in said cylinder, electric contacts at the exterior of the cylinder and connected to said sparking device, a circuit maker and breaker adjacent to said contacts, Ymeans secured to the said rotary pipe for actuating' said circuit maker and breaker, and means imparting movement from the aforesaid engine-shaft to said rotary pipe substantially as described.

9. In a gasolene engine, the combination with the explosion-cylinder, piston in said cylinder, and the shaft rotated by said piston, of a starting device comprising' a compressed-air chamber, a pipe leading' from said chamber, a carbureter connected to said pipe, a gasolene-chamber communicating' with said carbureter, valves controlling the supply of air and gasolene to the carbureter, a manuallyoperated lever for simultaneously actuating said valves, a rotary pipe conducting' the mixture from the carbureter to the cylinder, an automatic cut-off valve controlling the discharge of the mixture from the latter pipe, a check-valve interposed between the cut-oli'1 valve and cylinder, means actuated by the aforesaid lever for releasing and closing said check-valve, a suitably-arranged pair of primary electric-circuit contacts, a circuit maker and breaker adjacent to said contacts and actuated by the said lever, an electric sparkplug' in the cylinder, a pair of secondary electric-circuit contacts on the cylinder and connected to the spark-plug, a circuit maker and breaker adjacent to the latter contacts, means secured to the aforesaid rotary pipe for actuating Asaid secondary circuit maker and breaker, and means imparting' motion from the engine-shaft to said rotary pipe substan- -tially as described.

l0. In a gasolene-engine, the combination with the explosion-cylinder, piston in said cylinder, and shaft rotated by said piston, of a starting' device comprising a compressed-air chamber, a pipe leading' from said compressedair chamber, a rotary valve in said pipe and 'controlling the discharge of air, a carbureter connected to said pipe, a gasolene-chamber communicating with the carbureter, a longitudinally-movable valve controlling the supply of gasolene to said carbureter, means connecting the gasolene-valve with the air-valve, a hand-lever fastened to the air-valve, a rotary pipe conducting the mixture from the carbureter to the aforesaid cylinder, a cut-o valve controlling the discharge of the mixture from the latter pipe, a check-valve interposed between the cut-ofi valve and cylinder, a longitudinally-movable bar or rod releasing and closing said check-valve and actuated by said hand-lever, means imparting movement from 'the engine-shaft to said rotary pipe, and a suitable igniter in said cylinder substantially as described.

ll. In a gasolene-engine, the combination with a plurality of explosion-cylinders, reciprocating pistons in said cylinders, and crankshaft connected to said pistons, of a starting device comprising' a compressed-air chamber, a pipe leading' from said chamber, a carbureter connected to said pipe, a gasolene-chamber communicating' with said carbureter, valves controlling' the supply of air and gasolene to the carbureter, a pipe conducting the mixture from the carbureter tosaid cylinders, consecutively-acting valves controlling the discharge from the latter pipe, check-valves interposed between the discharge-valves and cylinders, means for releasing and closing said check valves, means operating dischargevalves, and an igniter in each of the cylinders substantially as described.

l2. In a gasolene-engine, the combination with a plurality of explosion-cylinders, reciprocating pistons in said cylinders, and the crank-shaft connected to said pistons, of a starting device comprising a compressed-air chamber, a passage leading' from said chamber to the cylinders, a carbureter connected to the passage, a gasolene-chamber communicating' with said carbureter, valves controlling the supply of air and gasolene to the carbureter, a hand-lever for actuating said valves, a passage conducting the mixture from the carbureter to the explosion-cylinders, consecutivelyacting cut-off valves controlling the discharge from the latter passage into the respective cylinders, means actuating the latter valves,

check-valves interposed between the cut-off valves and cylinders, means for releasing and .closing said check-valves, an electric sparking device in each of the cylinders, a pair of' IOO IIO

primary electric circuit contacts, a circuit maker and breaker adjacent to said contacts and actuated by the aforesaid lever, a pair of secondary electric-circuit contacts connected to each sparking device, a circuit maker and breaker adjacent to each of the latter pairs of contacts, and means actuating said secondary circuit makers and breakers consecutively substantially as described. l

13. In a gasolene-engine, the combination with a plurality of explosion-cylinders, pistons in said cylinders, and shaft connected to said pistons, of a starting device comprising a compressed-air chamber, a stationary pipe leading from said chamber, a carbureter connected to said pipe, a gasolene-chamber communicating with said carbureter, valves controlling the supply of air and gasolene to said carbureter, a rotary pipe conducting the miX- ture from the carbureter to the cylinders, consecutively-acting valves arranged to open and close communication between the latter pipe and respective cylinders, manually-operated means for actuating the gasolene and air valves and simultaneously releasing and closing the check valves, means imparting movement from the engine-shaft to the said rotary pipe, an electric spark-plug in each cylinder, a pair of primary electric-circuit contacts, a circuit maker and breaker adjacent to said contacts, and actuated by the aforesaid manually-operated means, a pair of secondary electric-circuit contacts connected to each of the spark-plugs, a circuit maker and breaker adjacent to each of the latterv pairs of contacts, and means on the aforesaid rotary pipe for consecutively actuating said secondary electric-circuit makers and breakers substantially as described.

14. In a gasolene-engine, the combination with a plurality of explosion-cylinders, pistons in said cylinders, and shaft connected to said pistons, of a starting device comprising a compressed-air chamber, a pipe leading from said chamber, a carbureter connected to said pipe, a gasolene-chamber communicating with said carbureter, valves controlling the supply of gasolene and air to the carbureter, a manually-operated lever for actuating said Valves, a rotary pipe conducting the mixture from the carbureter and disposed adjacent to the explosion-cylinders, ports in said rotary pipe and arranged to consecutively open and close communication between said pipe and respective cylinders, check-valves disposed between said ports and the cylinders, a longitudinally-movable bar or rod connected to said check-valves for simultaneously releasing and closing the same and actuated by the aforesaid lever, a pair of primary electriccircuit contacts, a circuit maker and breaker adjacent to said contacts and actuated by the said lever, an electric spark-plug in each cylinder, a pair of secondary electric-circuit contacts on each cylinder and connected to the respective spark-plugs, a circuit maker and breaker adjacent to each of the latter pairs of contacts, means secured to the said rotary pipe and adapted to consecutively actuate the secondary circuit makers and breakers, and means imparting movement from the engineshaft to said rotary pipe substantially as described.

15. In a gasolene-engine, the combination with a plurality of explosion-cylinders, pistons in said cylinders, and shaft connected to said pistons, of a starting device comprising a compressed-air chamber, a stationary pipe leading from said chamber, a carbureter connected to said pipe, a gasolene-chamber communicating with the carbureter, a rotary valve controlling the supply of air to the carbureter, a valve controlling the supply of gasolene, a manually-operated lever for actuating said valves, a rotary pipe conducting the miX- ture from the carbureter and disposed adjacent to the cylinders, pipe-sections connecting said rotary pipe with the respective cylinders, ports in said rotary pipe arranged to consecutively open and close communication between said pipe and pipe-sections, check-valves at the junction of the pipe-sections and cylinders and provided with stems having enlarged outer end portions, longitudinal wedging-slots in said enlarged portions, a longitudinallymovable bar or rod formed with wedging projections passing through said slots and operative to release and close said check-valves simultaneously, a stem or spindle projecting' from the aforesaid air-valve and provided with a spiral groove, a suitably-pivoted lever connected at one end to said bar or rod and having its opposite end engaging said grooved spindle or stem, a pair of primary electriccircuit contacts, a circuit maker and breaker adjacent to said contacts and secured to the aforesaid stem or spindle, a pair of secondary electric-circuit contacts secured to each of the explosion cylinders, a circuit maker and breaker on each cylinder, suitablyshaped collars secured to said rotary pipe and arranged to consecutively actuate the latter circuit makers and breakers respectively, electric spark-plugs secured in the respective cylinders and connected to the said secondary electric contacts, and means transmitting movement from the engine-shaft to said rotary pipe substantially as described.

FRANK REYNOLDS.

Witnesses:

J. J. LAAss, E. L. MEIER.

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